A failure to diagnose an illness can not just delay treatment but risk the patient’s life. That is why it is one of the most devastating mistakes a doctor can make. It usually happens when the doctor fails to notice a symptom and does not diagnose the illness. Or, the doctor may interpret the symptoms incorrectly and misdiagnose the patient.
All of these cases of errors are collectively known as medical malpractice. Indeed, the correct diagnosis of an illness is one of the most difficult jobs of a doctor. However, it is also the most important since the treatment plan is based on the diagnosis. Consult a Georgia Medical malpractice lawyer today.
Medical conditions that doctors fail to diagnose
- Failure to diagnose cancer.
Generally, the best cure for cancer is to catch it as early as possible. Therefore, it makes a delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis even more dangerous and life-threatening. This commonly occurs when the doctor fails to read the patient’s medical history properly, runs the necessary tests, interprets the test results wrongly, or ignores certain vital information. It is also possible for a doctor to fail to diagnose cancer when they do not listen to the patient properly.
- Failure to diagnose heart attacks.
Many people keep themselves educated about the symptoms of a heart attack for their own and their loved ones’ safety. The commonly seen ones include chest pain that shoots down the left arm, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc. However, hundreds of other common health conditions can have these same symptoms, misleading doctors. For example, diagnosing a heart attack as gastrointestinal reflux disease is not uncommon.
- Failure to diagnose Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a severe health condition, but its symptoms can mimic various other daily life medical problems. Lyme disease occurs when you get bit by a tick that is infected with the Lyme bacteria. The symptoms can be as general as nausea, muscle pain, stiff neck, shortness of breath, vomiting, stomach cramps, etc. Unless the patient gets a proper medical diagnosis and treatment, they cannot get better at home.
- Failure to diagnose Appendicitis.
Appendicitis is one of the most commonly missed diseases for doctors, which is unfortunate considering how potentially fatal the condition can be. About one in three appendicitis patients seek initial diagnosis and treatment. If a doctor fails to recognize the symptoms and run the blood tests, they can be held responsible for disregarding the patient’s health.
Hire a medical malpractice attorney today.
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